Bergdahl's Hometown Cancels Celebration Amid Backlash

Photo Credit: US Army 2009

HAILEY, Idaho (AP) - A woman who lives next door to Bowe Bergdahl's family in Idaho says some of the reaction to his release amounts to a "modern-day lynching."

Lee Ann Ferris says Bergdahl has "already suffered enough," and that the community "will welcome him back no matter what."

But the town of Hailey has canceled plans for a celebration later this month marking his return from five years of Taliban captivity in Afghanistan. The town has been swamped with hate mail and angry calls from those who believe Bergdahl was a deserter who should be punished.

Bergdahl was captured in 2009 in Afghanistan after walking away from his unit, unarmed.

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